Overview

If you're already working in Human Resources and have ambitious plans for your career, an MSc or PgDip Human Resource Management qualification can give you the skills, knowledge and postgraduate qualification you need to get ahead.

On this course, you'll develop your existing HR skills and knowledge, and grow your leadership and management skills too. You'll put the theory you learn into practice, and when you graduate, you'll have met the requirements for CIPD HR Professional Map at Advanced Level 7.

What's more, your MSc or PgDip can help you move up the ladder in your current workplace, and open doors to exciting new roles elsewhere. And you'll have transferrable skills too, so you can explore careers in recruitment or business development.

What you'll experience

On this course you'll:

Get to grips with the key themes in HR management, covering leadership and management skills, talent management, and employment relationships

Complete a work placement in an HR environment, where you'll get valuable experience and put theory into practice

Learn though lectures, case studies, group work and skills development workshops, where you'll contribute to managerial and HR-based activities

MSc students will complete an investigative business project, which will determine whether you graduate with an MSc Human Resource Management or an MSc Human Resource Development

Benefit from our flexible approach to learning, with web, email and phone access to many of our facilities

Engage with HRM specialists and legal professionals

Careers and opportunities

We're an Approved Centre for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), so you'll graduate from this course with an approved qualification which meets the requirements of the CIPD HR Professional Map at Advanced Level 7. You'll also be eligible for Associate membership of the CIPD, and depending on your previous experience, you could meet the criteria for Chartered Membership.

You'll also have strong people management and HR-specific skills, you'll be able to reflect on your practice, and be ready to make an active contribution to business performance.

Career opportunities include:

Business development and consultancy

Management

Recruitment

Personnel

Human resources

Training

Benefits analyst

Human resource officer

Human resource systems manager

Personnel adviser

Recruitment consultant

Training and development coordinator

We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.

As a Masters student you will need to study units worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 4 units worth 30 credits and 1 unit worth 60 credits.

As a PgDip student you will study 120 credits over two years, part time, typically covering 4 units worth 15 credits each year, and have the option to complete a further 60 credits to achieve the Masters.

Units currently being studied

Core units include:

Leadership Skill and Management

Resourcing, Learning and Talent Management

Managing Human Resource and Employment Relationships in Context

Research Skills for the HR Professional

The International HR Practioner

Core units include:

Leadership Skill and Management

Resourcing, Learning and Talent Management

Managing Human Resource and Employment Relationships in Context

The International HR Practioner

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional units may not run every year. If a unit doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative unit.

Work experience and career planning

We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your HR skills to work.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Learning support

As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

academic writing

note taking

time management

critical thinking

presentation skills

referencing

working in groups

revision, memory and exam techniques

Teaching

Teaching on this course includes:

lectures

case studies

group work

How you'll spend your time

Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:

September to December – teaching block 1

January – assessment period 1

January to May – teaching block 2 (includes Easter break)

May to June – assessment period 2

Most teaching takes place during the day, on Thursdays, Fridays and very occasionally on Saturdays. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through:

coursework

presentations

exams

Entry requirements​

Entry requirements

Qualifications or experience

A second class honours degree or equivalent in any academic subject and seeking to pursue/continue an HR career. Applicants with Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 3 or Level 5 and/or candidates with appropriate work experience will also be considered.

English language requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Apply

International students

If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.